Del Tech student Marcus Wright accepts internship with AmeriCorps

Marcus Wright’s dedication to his community and college have earned him a national internship opportunity.

Starting Feb. 2014, Wright, 22, of Seaford, will travel to Sacramento, Calif. to intern with the Federal Emergency Management Agency through AmeriCorps. The internship will last for 10 months, and during that time he will be part of the FEMA response unit, meaning he will likely travel across the country responding to any disasters that need federal aid. Wright said he expects to participate in disaster cleanup, provide food and water, and take part in educational sessions on emergency preparedness and planning.

“An internship with FEMA on your resume opens up everything,” said Wright, a human services major at Delaware Technical Community College’s Owens Campus. “I felt like this was something I couldn’t pass up.”

This internship will be a huge experience for Wright. He has never been to the West Coast, and this will be his first time away from home. He will join 15-16 other interns who will work 40-50 hours per week. They are also required to do an individual service project that takes at least 80 hours, and will participate in at least four to six large projects, some in California and others across the country. In addition, all interns will take leadership courses throughout the program. Family and friends are allowed to visit throughout the year, and there is a two-week vacation in July, unless a major event occurs that requires a response.

Wright is a student ambassador and volunteers for nearly every project or event at the Owens Campus. He is also a volunteer assistant football coach at Seaford High School and has participated in mission work. He became interested in working for AmeriCorps earlier this year when he attended Alternative Spring Break with Delaware Tech faculty and students and worked at Project PLASE in Baltimore, Md. Two other volunteers there were from AmeriCorps and told him about the opportunities their organization could provide.

Jennifer Blackwell, an Owens Campus academic counselor and Civic & Community Engagement coordinator, organized and supervised the Alternative Spring Break program and gave Wright a glowing recommendation for the internship.

“AmeriCorps wants individuals who not only have the passion, interest and skills, but also the openness and willingness to continue to develop his/her skills in each of their volunteers - to me, this is Marcus as he continues to demonstrate these characteristics in the variety of roles he serves in,” Blackwell said.

Wright will use this internship as credit for his Human Services internship. He will also finish his final class under independent study and will still graduate in May. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to attend the Commencement ceremony, but that is a small price he is willing to pay.

“Volunteering is a great thing to do,” Wright said. “I feel we have a responsibility to give back to our community if we have the means to.”